Healthy Futures After GDM Australia Podcast

Ep. 7 The silence of prediabetes & type 2 diabetes

Most mums who've had GDM reach the same conclusion after their baby arrives: I feel fine, so I probably am. And honestly? That conclusion makes complete sense — especially when you're sleep-deprived, keeping a small human alive, and no one from the healthcare system is checking in anymore. But here's what the research tells us: prediabetes and the lead-up to Type 2 diabetes are largely silent. Your glucose levels can be creeping up for years before you feel a thing. Your body works harder and harder to compensate — and you have no idea it's happening. In this episode, Jaimee breaks down three patterns she sees repeatedly in her clinical work — patterns that map directly onto what the research describes — and explains why feeling fine is not the same as being metabolically well. She also unpacks why simply telling women the statistics isn't enough, why personalised metabolic data changes everything, and why your health and your child's health are not as separate as they might feel right now. Because GDM wasn't just a pregnancy complication. It was a metabolic stress test — and what it revealed doesn't disappear when the placenta does. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. General education only — speak with your healthcare provider about what's right for you Whether you're newly postpartum, years past your GDM diagnosis, or supporting someone who's been through this experience, this podcast is for you. Let's create healthy futures together! Please also follow our FB page &/or Instagram.  If you could also rate and follow the podcast on your favourite app, we can support more women on this journey. Because knowledge + community = empowerment. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr Learn more about Healthy Futures Individual Insight Program here: https://healthyfuturesaftergdmaustralia.systeme.io/ (option to book discovery call via the link above) Links mentioned in this podcast: Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing [https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-national-diabetes-strategy-2021-2030?language=en] https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ep. 6 The feeling of abandonment after GDM is valid!

After your baby arrives, the appointments stop, the check-ins stop, and suddenly you're on your own — with a newborn and a future health risk nobody is really following up on. In this episode I'm talking about something that comes up consistently in research on women's experiences after GDM: abandonment. It's not a dramatic word — it's the word women themselves use. I unpack what the research tells us, why this gap exists, what it means for your long-term health, and why improving support for women after GDM is actually a recognised priority in Australia's National Diabetes Strategy. You deserved better follow-up than you got. Let's talk about it. Whether you're newly postpartum, years past your GDM diagnosis, or supporting someone who's been through this experience, this podcast is for you. Let's create healthy futures together! Please also follow our FB page &/or Instagram.  If you could also rate and follow the podcast on your favourite app, we can support more women on this journey. Because knowledge + community = empowerment. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr Learn more about Healthy Futures Individual Insight Program here: https://healthyfuturesaftergdmaustralia.systeme.io/ (option to book discovery call via the link above) Links mentioned in this podcast: Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing [https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-national-diabetes-strategy-2021-2030?language=en] https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ep. 5 The All-Important Glucose-Insulin Relationship

Understanding what's happening inside your body is the first step to taking control of your health after GDM. In Episode 5, I explain the glucose-insulin relationship in plain language—how your body processes carbohydrates, what insulin does, and why some women are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. Understanding why glucose levels can appear 'normal' is important for long-term health because what is not always obvious is the truth about high insulin levels can be doing damage without you knowing it. I discuss this to help you understand why you need to know what's happening inside your body, and more importantly, how to manage this. I'm also sharing something exciting: the launch of the Healthy Futures Individual Insight Program—a small but very dedicated healthcare team and personalised support for women who are ready to learn more about their body. This episode will help you understand the importance of knowing what is happening inside YOUR body. Whether you're newly postpartum, years past your GDM diagnosis, or supporting someone who's been through this experience, this podcast is for you. Let's create healthy futures together! Please also follow our FB page &/or Instagram.  If you could also rate and follow the podcast on your favourite app, we can support more women on this journey. Because knowledge + community = empowerment. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr Learn more about Healthy Futures Individual Insight Program here: https://healthyfuturesaftergdmaustralia.systeme.io/ (option to book discovery call via the link above) Links mentioned in this podcast: Dr. Benjamin Bikman book - Why We Get Sick Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease-and How to Fight It : Bikman, Benjamin, Fung, Jason: Amazon.com.au: Books [https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/194883698X?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au] Disclaimer: Please note this information is to the best of my knowledge at the time of recording. Please always check with your medical team before making any changes to your own healthcare management in any way. This is not individualised advice.  This podcast is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or health advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with its application intended for discussion between yourself and your healthcare team (or workplace if you are a healthcare professional). https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ep. 4 Understanding Changes to the GDM Criteria & How Women's Voices Have Impacted

GDM diagnosis and treatment targets have changed yet again! Many women feel GDM has been purely about numbers and clinical outcomes, creating negative pregnancy experiences, creating a feeling of the system being over-medicalised for some. While many women still question GDM diagnosis and treatment targets, these new guidelines mark a historic shift - consumer experiences are now recognised and have been considered in this decision in 2025. Jaimee will briefly trace the journey of diagnostic criteria from the original Australian thresholds through the controversial 2014 lowering that dramatically increased diagnosis rates, to the new 2025 compromise criteria. But more importantly, we'll explore how the recognition that "a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus may substantially affect women's psychological wellbeing" and can lead to "internalised stigma (guilt, shame, fear and anxiety)" alongside burden of care that may include financial strain, increased surveillance, and dietary restriction. This episode explores the importance of experiences of diagnosis, treatment, and long-term health outcomes contributed to a more balanced approach that considers both clinical evidence and the real human impact of labeling. We'll discuss what these changes mean for future mums, how they might affect your children's risk profiles, and why having women's voices heard in medical guidelines represents a crucial step toward truly patient-centered care. Because reducing type 2 diabetes risk isn't just about the numbers - it's about supporting women through a journey that honours both their physical health and social, emotional and psychological wellbeing. Whether you’re newly postpartum or years past your GDM diagnosis, learn how CGMs could become your ally in building a healthier future. Ready to take charge of your healthy future? Join our private Facebook group 'Healthy Futures After Gestational Diabetes' for ongoing support, resources, and connection with other women who truly understand your journey. Link to Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Whether you're newly postpartum, years past your GDM diagnosis, or supporting someone who's been through this experience, this podcast is for you. Let's create healthy futures together! Please also follow our FB page &/or Instagram.  If you could also rate and follow the podcast on your favourite app, we can support more women on this journey. Because knowledge + community = empowerment. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr References for this episode: https://www.healthed.com.au/clinical_articles/new-gestational-diabetes-guidelines/ Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) 2025 consensus recommendations for the screening, diagnosis and classification of gestational diabetes | The Medical Journal of Australia [https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/3/australasian-diabetes-pregnancy-society-adips-2025-consensus-recommendations] Disclaimer: Please note this information is to the best of my knowledge at the time of recording. Please always check with your medical team before making any changes to your own healthcare management in any way. This is not individualised advice.  This podcast is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or health advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with its application intended for discussion between yourself and your healthcare team (or workplace if you are a healthcare professional). https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ep. 3 Glucose Revealed: How Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Technology Can Help

In this episode, we explore how Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) can be game changers for women managing their health after gestational diabetes. Jaimee draws on three decades of living with type 1 diabetes to demystify these powerful devices—explaining (in short) what they are, how they work, and why they’re not just for people with diabetes. Discover how CGMs make the invisible visible, providing real-time insights into how your body responds to food, stress, sleep, and exercise. For women who’ve experienced GDM, this technology offers a unique opportunity to understand their glucose patterns and make informed choices that could help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Whether you’re newly postpartum or years past your GDM diagnosis, learn how CGMs could become your ally in building a healthier future. Ready to take charge of your healthy future? Join our private Facebook group 'Healthy Futures After Gestational Diabetes' for ongoing support, resources, and connection with other women who truly understand your journey. Link to Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Whether you're newly postpartum, years past your GDM diagnosis, or supporting someone who's been through this experience, this podcast is for you. Let's create healthy futures together! Please also follow our FB page &/or Instagram.  If you could also rate and follow the podcast on your favourite app, we can support more women on this journey. Because knowledge + community = empowerment. Disclaimer: Please note this information is to the best of my knowledge at the time of recording. Please always check with your medical team before making any changes to your own healthcare management in any way. This is not individualised advice.  This podcast is not intended to, constitute or replace medical or health advice. Instead, all information provided is intended for education, with its application intended for discussion between yourself and your healthcare team (or workplace if you are a healthcare professional). https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A9qQyBD1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr